By Chris Cosci

I'd like to start off by making an addendum to my previous Observations. I fear that some people may assume that I don't like Christmas. This is certainly not the case. I actually love the holiday season. However, I found it harder this year to really get into the holiday spirit. Part of it was due to the stress of shopping. Part of it was due to the unseasonably warm weather we've been having on Long Island.

Whatever the reasons, though, the spirit of the holidays did finally get me. There are just some things that make me happy. For example, hearing The Chipmunk Song on the radio after finally buying my last Christmas gift. You just have to sing along when Alvin sings "me, I want a huuuuuuula hooooop!"

Also, there's the annual musical extravaganza on Christmas Eve, when everybody at my family's home sings along to holiday songs being played by me and other musicians. This eclectic band of musicians consists of myself on piano, my brother on guitar, my sister on flute, and (brace yourself) my father on accordion. And, as an added bonus, a friend of mine joined us again this year on trombone. Go ahead. You try to imagine what that must sound like.

Despite the fact that my brother hardly plays his guitar anymore and my sister and father only play once a year, we still have a good time. Note, I don't say we sound particularly good. For the most part, we sound acceptable. However, after watching the video the following day, I am confident that this year's performance (for lack of a better word) of Silver Bells could be considered in most states as cruel and unusual punishment.

Anyway, my point is that I enjoy Christmas, and I just wanted to clear that up before moving on to something new.

Having now stated my enjoyment of the holiday season, please allow me to say that New Year's Eve has to be the most over-hyped and over-blown "holiday." It's actually kind of silly when you think about. People stay up until midnight so that they can cheer as one year ends and the next year begins. Then what? Nothing. Sometimes, at fancy parties, people sing Auld Lang Syne. Actually, they hum it because nobody actually knows the words to that song.

Other than that, though, nothing happens. Everything before midnight is a huge buildup for a relatively anticlimactic ending. Once the ball drops and the clocks strike twelve, it's just another day. There's a brief period of kissing and hugging and drinking champagne. Then, it's all over. Time for bed.

The amazing part is that somehow, the government has made New Year's Day a national holiday. I'm not complaining about this. I like getting the day off. It just seems rather odd. I think what happened was a bunch of government officials wanted to throw a big party on New Year's Eve. Knowing that they would never be able to show up for work the next day, they passed a law making New Year's Day a holiday.

In any case, 2002 is right around the corner. Enjoy whatever you do and best wishes for a healthy and safe new year.